Park Tae-jong, the 60-year-old legendary jockey who holds Korea's all-time record for most wins, has retired from horse racing.
The Korea Racing Authority (KRA) held a commemorative race and official retirement ceremony for Park, dubbed the "President of Horse Racing," at LetsRun Park Seoul in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Sunday. Park, who did not compete in the commemorative race, bid farewell to fans by riding his final racing partner "Miracle Socks" along the straight track.
"When I was a rookie, I was anxious because my first win came later than my peers, and when I won a major race, I felt like I had the whole world," Park said at the retirement ceremony. "High expectations became pressure, and it was hard when criticism poured in even when I did my best, but all of that became the driving force for my growth."
He added, "The applause and congratulations from fans at my retirement event, after running without looking back, gave me great comfort and emotion. I am grateful to the horse owners who gave me riding opportunities, trainers, grooms, track riders, fellow jockeys, and racing fans who always cheered for me. I was happy to be with you all."
In his final competitive race on December 21, Park rode Miracle Socks but finished second. He led from the start and appeared poised to cap his career with a victory, but was overtaken at the end by "Like Dew," ridden by jockey Lee Sang-gyu, born in 2000.
Over his 38-year career, Park competed in 16,014 races and recorded 2,249 wins, establishing himself as the most victorious jockey in Korean racing history. He won 48 major races including the Grand Prix and Korean Derby, and was named best jockey five times—records that remain unmatched.
Born in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province in 1965, Park moved to Seoul after high school while looking for work. His uncle by marriage suggested he apply to become a jockey trainee at the KRA. The recruitment notice specified a height requirement of 160 centimeters or less, and Park, who stands 150 centimeters tall, was pleased to discover that his short stature, which he had considered a disadvantage, was actually an asset for a jockey.
After two attempts, Park became a jockey trainee and made his professional debut at Ttukseom Racecourse in April 1987. He went on to become the first Korean jockey to achieve 1,000 wins, 2,000 wins, and 10,000 race appearances. The second-place record holder is Moon Se-young, known as the "Crown Prince of Horse Racing," who reached 2,000 wins in March this year and currently has 2,054 wins—195 fewer than Park.
Despite the glamorous titles of "President of Horse Racing" and "People's Jockey," Park maintained rigorous self-discipline throughout his career. He woke up at 4 a.m. daily to train, abstained from alcohol and tobacco, and went to bed at 9 p.m. without fail. He earned fans' love and support by focusing solely on racing and never being implicated in scandals such as race-fixing despite his long career.
At the ceremony, Park presented fans with commemorative sports socks designed after his racing colors—blue with yellow and red stripes, his trademark pattern. Kim Chang-sik, owner of Miracle Socks, cooperated in producing the gifts.
Starting Sunday, the KRA is hosting a special exhibition titled "Goodbye My Hero" at the Korean Horse Racing Centennial Memorial Hall on the first floor of Seoul Racecourse's grandstand. The exhibition displays victory trophies Park has collected over the years, along with stirrups, helmets, whips, and racing silks from his active years.
"Park is a living legend who shared the joys and sorrows with Korean horse racing for 38 years while demonstrating the highest skills and professionalism," KRA Chairman Jung Ki-hwan said. "His contributions, which cannot be fully captured in records alone, will be remembered forever."
